Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
Earlier this month, we looked at a collection of photos taken by the late Kusakabe Kimbei that showed the cityscapes of Japan as they looked in the late 1800s, right before the country’s rapid modernization. But Kimbei didn’t just photograph Japan, he also photographed the Japanese, so today we’re taking another trip back in time, but with a more personal touch, with dozens of photographs that show what daily life was like for the people of Japan generations ago.
What happens when your “prank” isn’t really a prank, but it is kind of awkward? This might take a while…
If you are in Niigata this March, you can live out your Tangled fantasy with a breathtaking view of floating lanterns that rival the beauty of the Disney movie and the festival in Thailand that inspired the film’s iconic scene.
I’m slightly claustrophobic. So you might wonder why I would volunteer to have myself locked into a small room with a bunch of strangers. The truth is that I can’t resist a puzzle.
This is an escape room, an immersive puzzle-solving experience that will test your lateral thinking skills and problem-solving, and for the first time in Japan, it’s being offered in English and Chinese.
Nestlé Japan is offering a new service which allows cats and their humans to dine together. Are you ready to go where no pet owner has gone before?
The dating simulator scene is getting weirder and weirder, so it’s hard to be surprised by anything they come up with these days. Humans are already old news and we’re now used to romancing all manner of strange creatures. Even so, this mobile game for girls caught my eye with its unique character designs and by promising love with powerful ancient Egyptian deities.
Does that beautiful breakfast look like it came from the kitchen of a high-class ryokan inn or loving Japanese family? Guess again – it’s all from 7-Eleven!
Meet Enako, a cute and popular cosplayer who has all her fans buzzing recently with her latest photoshoot that shows off how well pink suits her.
With its brushstroke-style Japanese text, this T-shirt might look cool, but it’s literally ridiculous.
Dragon Ball Z: The Fall of Men by BlackSmokeFilms is the fan-made DBZ video that we’ve long been waiting for. Grab a drink and a snack, because you’ve got 30 minutes of awesome to watch.
Tokyo Skytree has a brilliant light display in store for four days only, and it’s designed to represent three of Japan’s signature dishes: tamago kake gohan (egg with rice), o-nabe (Japanese hot pot), and takikomi gohan (seasoned steamed rice).
With the world’s knowledge quite literally at our fingertips, the sheer amount of information available to us can be overwhelming. With the ability to look up anything from recipes to diagnostics and treatments for diseases at the touch of a button, how are we to know what to believe?
A doctor’s office in Japan has posted a list of 10 tips to help patients weed through all the falsities in order to make the best decisions about their medical care.
Because sometimes a sweatshirt with a kitty cuddle pouch isn’t enough. Oh, and also you have to poop.
If you live in Asia, you’re probably used to seeing Engrish phrases everywhere. When you’ve grown up reading and writing in kanji, hiragana, etc., the “foreign-ness” of English writing and phrases adds an air of mystery and style. But it’s exactly the same in the west too—people will buy all kinds of products with kanji characters written on them whether or not they know what they mean.
Here are some examples of decked-out cars with random, nonsensical Japanese phrases on them that have Japanese netizens laughing their socks off over.
Episode 1 of our brand new series, Ask Mr. Sato, is here! Join us at the link below to listen to the great man’s sagely advice!
A rubber suit monster, surreal humor, and a heaping helping of sexual subtext that has nothing to do with the product itself? This might be the alpha and the omega of Japanese commercials.
2-D heroines get a boost from 3-D perspective and an extremely talented fan.
Oxford Dictionaries, the online arm of the publisher of the Oxford Dictionary of English, has announced that its 2015 Word of the Year is an emoji. No, not the word “emoji,” but a single, specific emoji.
With laser-blast-firing sumo wrestlers on horses, Japan Sumo Derby was one of the best things we’ve seen this year. So, how can it be topped? With Street Fighter characters!
This lovely and feminine poster was made for the Sakura Jidai Festival, also known as the Festival of the Ages. While it is certainly beautiful, it’s garnering attention online because it was created by an 81-year-old man.
Silicone testicle covers banned from Japanese sauna following cups being left behind and on shelves
Float all of your troubles away with a boat ride down the Shimanto River in Kochi Prefecture
Pokémon lacquerware series expands for Year of the Horse with new handcrafted design[Video]
Tokyo subway and almost all Tokyo train lines now accepting credit card tap payments
Three ways going to see cherry blossoms alone is better than seeing them with other people
Studio Ghibli adds new My Neighbour Totoro 2026 Corn Gift to its anime store for Mother’s Day
Totoro Fund line of beautiful artwork and apparel lets you help the real-world Totoro Forest
What’s the best way to spend 1,000 yen at Kura Sushi?【Japan Super Budget Dining】
Is Sapporio’s Snow Festival awesome enough to be worth visiting even if you hate the snow? [Pics]
Fried sandwiches arrive in Tokyo, become hot topic on social media
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Totoro and Calcifer become little light-up lanterns for Ghibli-style excursions or at-home decor
7-Eleven Japan releases a crazy new viral sandwich: Chocolate Sprinkles and Whipped Cream
Tokyo’s best museum for foreign travelers finally reopens after being closed for four years
Picturesque Tokyo park plays host to millions of flowers and soap bubbles this spring
Fatal stabbing at Pokémon Center in Tokyo reignites concern over rising stalking cases in Japan
Final Fantasy invites you to adventure in Fukushima with Fukushima Fantasy Chocobo fun[Video]
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime characterKrispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Studio Ghibli adds new My Neighbour Totoro 2026 Corn Gift to its anime store for Mother’s Day
Totoro Fund line of beautiful artwork and apparel lets you help the real-world Totoro Forest
What’s the best way to spend 1,000 yen at Kura Sushi?【Japan Super Budget Dining】
Is Sapporio’s Snow Festival awesome enough to be worth visiting even if you hate the snow? [Pics]
Fried sandwiches arrive in Tokyo, become hot topic on social media
Attack on Titan sukajan jackets bring elegant action to your wardrobe, are two garments in one
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Japan now has stricter requirements for foreigners applying for citizenship
Turn a persimmon into a pudding with one simple ingredient
Summer nights at this amazing Tokyo open-air museum are like stepping back in time
Japan now has a “for foreign tourists only” Mt. Fuji sightseeing train[Video]
Start planning for next year’s Halloween with this official Majin Buu costume
Japan’s new “painful sadness” snacks are a deliciously mysterious linguistics lesson【Taste test】